Mum diagnosed with TCC/UCC cancer in Kidney &mets

10 years 10 months ago #44713 by Jmema
So glad things are better than they seemed a few days ago. Your Mom is young and Iam sending prayers for a good outcome.
There are some wonderful people on this board.....warriors with so much courage. I am sure it will give your Mum hope and strength to know she can beat this.
Blessings....Jean

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10 years 10 months ago #44712 by James from England
Replied by James from England on topic Mum diagnosed with TCC/UCC cancer in Kidney &mets
Hi Guys

Thanks for your comments.

Just to keep you updated and so there is an online record of our experience for future users to reference, the MRI scan came back with no sign of malignancy in mum's liver. We are overjoyed as this means that if her Kidney is cancerous (she is due a biopsy to confirm), they can operate and treat it and her chances are much better!

What a relief!

This shows how CT scans can be misleading!

Thanks
James

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10 years 10 months ago #44662 by mmc
Only a pathology of the cells will definitively confirm cancer. There are lots of thing that can show up as "consistent with cancer" in CT or MRI.

A CT/PET is also a better indicator for mets because they do head to toe and use a radioactive agent that causes tumours to light up. Even that does not CONFIRM cancer.

Hope all goes well.

Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...

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10 years 10 months ago #44649 by James from England
Replied by James from England on topic Mum diagnosed with TCC/UCC cancer in Kidney &mets
Hi Catherine

Thanks for your kind words Catherine.

I do hope that the liver lesions turn out to be benign. I have been at my wits end and prepared myself for the worst. This came as a pleasant surprise but I'm still worried that the MRI scan results may paint a different picture.

Best wishes

James

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10 years 10 months ago #44648 by CatherineH
Replied by CatherineH on topic Mum diagnosed with TCC/UCC cancer in Kidney &mets
Hello James... Well this is encouraging news. I'm not sure how doctors approach diagnosing over there, but my experience here in the U.S. is that the CT scans and MRI's are an invaluable tool to locate a mass, tumor, or any other solid irregularity. It doesn't tell the doctor what it is as far as cell type. An experienced doctor may highly suspect cancer based on appearance, shape, size, etc. but the confirmation comes from the pathology report of a biopsied tissue sample.

I do hope in your Mum's case they are correct in saying the liver cysts are benign. I have had small liver cysts for several years now and multiple doctors have noted it and said they are "benign cysts" and are of little concern. I have to confess, it does worry me at times due to having had bladder cancer as well.

Below is the mention of it on my latest CT report. I have been scanned yearly now 4 times. As long as it says "unchanged", I suppose I will try not to worry about it further.

"Multiple cystic structures in the liver remain unchanged. Dominant cystic structure in the right lobe of the liver measures 1.4 cm."

I hope they confirm that your Mum does not have mets and can then concentrate on TCC diagnosis and treatment. My best to you both... Your Mum and I are about the same age.

Best wishes... Catherine

TURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN

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10 years 10 months ago #44647 by James from England
Replied by James from England on topic Mum diagnosed with TCC/UCC cancer in Kidney &mets
Thanks for your reply Catherine.

The initial CT scan results were TCC of Kidney with mets to liver.

We got the biopsy results yesterday and they were not what we were expecting at all. The result was benign as they could not find any evidence of malignancy from the samples taken.

The doctor said for us to not get our hopes up as this conflicts with what was seen on the CT scan.. Does anyone know if they can definitely tell it's cancer from a CT scan?? How reliable are CT scans?

Anyway, as there are conflicting results she has got to have an MRI scan to confirm which way it is. Apparently they will be able to tell from the results of the MRI whether it has spread to liver or not. Does anyone know if MRI scans can confirm cancer without evidence of malignancy from biopsy to back it up?? I am praying that the liver lesions are benign as I understand that this would improve her chances significantly.

Thanks
James

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